49-Station EV Charging Center Opens in Calif.

The largest public electric vehicle charging facility in California has opened in a City of Santa Clara parking garage. The Santa Clara Electric Vehicle Charging Center features 48 Level 2 chargers and one DC Fast Charger.

The charging facility at Tasman Parking Garage was a state-funded collaborative effort. Santa Clara’s municipal electric utility Silicon Valley Power (SVP) obtained a $393,000 grant from the California Energy Commission to pay for the equipment and construction of the charging center. SVP collaborated with the Electric Power Research Institute, Joint Venture Silicon Valley, ChargePoint, and MJR Electric to obtain the grant.

“This is a milestone in our city’s commitment to fighting climate change, and it sets a standard for local action in California,” said Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor. “This garage also features a rooftop solar array and state-of-the-art power storage capability.”

The six-story parking structure has a 370-kilowatt photovoltaic installation, and uses battery technology from Green Charge Networks to help offset peak power demand with stored power to lower costs. The solar power flows into the local SVP grid, which provides the facility’s electricity. Operational expenses of the facility are expected to be covered by usage fees from EV drivers.

The parking structure is situated near the Santa Clara Convention Center, Levi’s Stadium, and the California Great America theme park.